Betty Kathryn Stapleton

Betty Kathryn Schulz Stapleton, age 76, joined her heavenly family on August 7, 2026, in Waco, Texas. She was born September 11, 1949, in Midland, Texas, to Herbert Vernon Schulz and Eva Lee Prince Schulz. She later made her home in Clifton, Texas.

Betty was blessed from an early age with an extraordinary and prodigal gift for music. Baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Midland, she began playing the organ for weekly church services in sixth grade. She later earned numerous musical awards and studied at a young age under a very prestigious pianist at Tulane University in New Orleans. Her family remembers her as a happy, friendly, kind, and humorous young woman.

Betty graduated from Justin F Kimball High School in Dallas in 1968 and earned a degree in Musical Performance from North Texas State University in 1972. She was employed as an Executive Secretary at Frito-Lay and subsequently devoted herself to family duties as a homemaker.

Betty faced significant challenges with illness in her later years, but those struggles never diminished her remarkable humanity, intellect, musical talent, perseverance, capacity to love, or deep Christian faith. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clifton.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves behind her children, Kristen Diane Faulk of Dallas and Eric Jonathan Faulk (Kelley) of Nacogdoches; three dearly loved grandchildren, Claudia Alexander, Alexandra Faulk, and Annalee Faulk; her sister, Jo Anne Blades (David) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and her brother, Wayne Schulz of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The family offers heartfelt gratitude to Clinton Schulz of Georgetown, Texas, her loving cousin and guardian, whose compassion and care for Betty were extraordinary. Special thanks are also extended to her relative Charles Kelly, Clifton, Michelle Lueck of Rainbow Village, Clifton, the staff at Jeffrey Place Nursing in Waco, neighbors on County Road 1605, Lake Whitney, and Sarah Kendrick of Kendrick Elder Law, Waco.

Betty's life was a gift, and her faith, music, love, and memory will remain cherished by all who knew her. May she rest forever in the peace and loving arms of her Heavenly Father.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church at Norse, 152 CR 4145, Clifton, Texas, Pastor Ryan Pederson officiating.